Course Organization:

I. (4 hours) Theory: Overview of Immersive Virtual Environment (IVE) Theory and Practice.
  • Design and implementation of IVEs
  • Meaning and implications of authentic science instruction in IVEs
  • Assessment of learning, and educational outcomes of IVEs
  • Roles and role formation in IVEs
  • Software agents and artifical intelligence in IVEs

II. (8 hours) Practice: Experience with science learning in IVEs (customized to participant interest).

  • Practice with the Virtual Cell (2-6 hours)
  • Practice with the Geology Explorer (2-6 hours)
  • Practice with other IVEs (1-2 hours)

III. (4 hours) Implementation, Dissemination, and Institutionalization: Portfolio documentation relating to science learning in Immersive Virtual Environments (IVEs).
Participants will prepare a portfolio of lesson plans and evaluative materials relating to their grade 6-12 curricula.

  • Prepare lesson plans incorporating IVEs into current instruction
  • Design new instruction based on IVEs
  • Design age-appropriate assessment and evaluation instruments (relating them to national and state standards).
  • Write implementation protocols based on technology
  • Actively participate in discussions arising from items above.
Final portfolio documents will be due Friday, June 20th (two weeks after the conclusion of the course).
The tentative plan is for exemplary portfolio materials to be collected into a "workbook" for possible use in future courses or possible state or national dissemination.


Modified: 3June03; Contact: slator@cs.ndsu.edu